A Medieval Sonic Story: Chapter 15 - In With The New

After the battle, the victors found some dry clothing for everyone and sent the Acorns on their way back to their castle. As he promised, King Sebastian paid the workers triple their wages to repair the damage that had been done. Tails and Sonic returned to their cottages in the Neutral Lands once they recovered from their wounds. As they approached, Vanilla saw them. "Princess Amy! Cream! They're back!"

The pink hedgehog and light brown rabbit came over as quickly as they could. Tails scooped up his wife and kissed her deeply. "I missed you."

Cream held him close. "I was so worried you were dead, Miles."

Amy hugged Sonic and kissed him all over his face. "Oh Sonic! I'm so relieved you're okay! We've been so worried!"

Dayna Hedgehog, Jacob's wife, came running when she saw the blue hedgehog and orange fox. But her pace slowed when she didn't see her own husband. "Sonic? Miles? Where's Jacob? Where is my husband?"

Sonic sighed, his quills drooping. "He risked his life to defeat Ivo… We were all locked in a stalemate against him, and we managed to chase him to the high tower. Thanks to the trebuchets, two boulders destroyed the tower and took Jacob out of action for several minutes. Sally and I took over until he recovered, and although we did our best, we were no match for Ivo. Jacob did the only thing he could at that point, and they took a very long fall out of the high tower…"

Dayna put a hand to her mouth, tears filling her blue eyes. "Is he alive?"

Tails lowered his gaze. "He was when we left, but he suffered severe injuries… By this point, he may have succumbed."

Dayna fell to her knees, crying loudly. Cream, Amy, and Vanilla hugged her tightly, but the yellow hedgehog shook her head. "Leave me please…"

She went back to her cottage, and while she continued her duties, she was not the same. The days turned into weeks, and as spring became summer, there was no sign of the giant orange hedgehog. Princess Amy and Cream spent a lot of time helping Dayna with the chores as best they could, but their respective pregnancies prevented them from doing much.

About a week after summer started, King Sebastian Rose nodded his approval as his castle was finally repaired. He and Queen Sabina also began another long series of conversations about their future together, and they came to a decision without much difficulty.

In the Neutral Lands, Tails was helping Sonic get his cottage ready for his new arrival, when some movement caught his eyes. He squinted, and then he looked over to where the yellow hedgehog was working near an open window. "Dayna? Come here please!"

She came out of her house and gasped. Limping along with the help of some crutches and escorted by the king and queen was none other than "JACOB!"

The orange hedgehog smiled as Dayna and his kids ran to him, and his massive arms wrapped them in a tight hug. "Dayna… children."

Dayna nuzzled him furiously. "Where have you been?! We've been worried sick about you!"

Jacob looked at the queen, who explained the situation. "It turned out Jacob's injuries were far worse than we knew, and he nearly died. But since he lived, the king and I have forbidden him from fighting ever again for the sake of you and the children."

Jacob nods. "I am more than okay with that. I'd much rather be a furrier."

Sonic smiled as he and Amy came over. "Well I'll be… he lived after all."

Jacob bowed to Sonic and Amy, and the king turned to the pink and blue hedgehogs. "There you are. How's the little one?"

Amy rubbed her belly and smiled when she felt a few kicks. "Just fine. Why are you here?"

King Rose sighed. "To apologize. It probably won't mean much, but I am deeply sorry for the way I treated you and Sonic."

Sonic bowed. "Thank you, but that isn't all, is it?"

Sabina shook her head. "No. You are all hereby summoned to the castle in one week's time. There is business to be settled."

Sonic, Amy, and the others accept, and a week later there was a large crowd gathered in the courtyard. Even the Acorn royal family was in attendance, because they knew what had to happen and they supported it. King Sebastian nodded to his guards, and Ivo was brought from his prison cell.

Woefully thin, he was now just a shell of himself, but he put on a brave face. He looked at the guard. "Did I beat that hedgehog at least?"

His answer came when he saw the giant orange hedgehog leaning on crutches next to the blue one called Sonic. Ivo was brought to the block and forced to his knees. Sebastian looked at the crowd and spoke. "I will not mince words, or waste your time. We are all gathered here to execute this usurper for daring to think he could rule my kingdom! His actions speak to his guilt, so this will be short."

Sebastian came forward and stopped in front of Ivo, wielding a massive sword. "I think you know what has to happen."

Ivo sneers at him. "Then do it."

The red hedgehog turns and gives the sword to Sonic. "No. You do it."

Sonic takes the sword and approaches the madman. "Any last words?"

Ivo's face twitched. "There will be more like me in the future."

Sonic nodded. "Just like there will be more similar to me to stop you, even though this time Jacob Hedgehog can claim victory over you by virtue of standing on his feet longer. Now, in the name of King Sebastian Rose, I sentence you to death for your treason."

Ivo's head was forced to the block, and up went the sword. The usurper shouted. "I am not afraid!"

Sonic cleaved down and Ivo's head fell to the ground. The crowd disperses back to their duties, and the king returns to his chambers with his wife. Sonic looks at Amy. "We need to stay here. The king and queen specifically asked us to do so."

Amy nods. "I know, but I wonder why."

Sonic shrugs. "We'll have to see."

One week later, yet another huge crowd was gathered in the courtyard, far larger than the one at Ivo's execution. The balcony was packed, and there was murmuring as the day drew toward sunset. Minstrels were playing their music, and torches were lit. King Sebastian and Queen Sabina came out to the balcony, and the music stopped. The red hedgehog looked at his wife, and the crowd noticed that they were wearing normal clothing.

Raising his hands, the king began to speak. "Thank you for coming. As you can see, my wife and I are not in our royal robes. The reason is because I am no longer fit to rule."

The shock roared through the crowd, and the fire-red hedgehog nodded. "Yes, I am abdicating the throne. I allowed my power to corrupt me, and I treated my family poorly as I lost control of myself and subsequently my kingdom. While in prison during the usurper's brief reign, I regained my senses and realized this is the correct thing to do. Thus, today will be the last day we rule as king and queen."

Queen Sabina stepped forward, and she calmed the crowd. "Fear not! My husband and I have found suitable ones to take our place."

They parted, and Sonic and Amy came forward to the surprise of the crowd, wearing the royal robes. Sebastian nodded. "I know, I was a bit surprised to reach this decision myself, but Sonic has proven himself in battle, and he stood strong in the face of adversity, part of it at my own hand."

Sonic looked at the crowd, his deep voice heard clearly. "Citizens, I understand your hesitation. Indeed, I never expected to be in this position either. But the king, queen, and princess trust me, so I ask you to please be patient with me. I swear before you all that I will rule fairly, justly, will defend the kingdom with my life, and with the princess at my side, promise to guide this kingdom back to prosperity!"

The crowd claps, and the priest has the blue and pink hedgehogs kneel. They do, and the priest anoints them with holy oil. The priest then turns to the crowd. "Do you recognize the new monarchs?"

The response was thunderous. "God save the king! God save the queen!"

The priest says some prayers, and the crowns are brought out. Hymns were sung, a sermon was given, and as the sun set, the priest turned to the two hedgehogs. "First, the princess."

The priest picks up the crown, larger than the last one she wore. "Princess Amy Rose Hedgehog, do you swear to be a fair, just, caring queen, giving to the poor each day, and to support your king in all matters of ruling?"

Amy glances at Sonic and looks at the priest. "I so swear before these gathered here that I will be a fair, just, caring queen, giving to the poor daily, and supporting my king in all matters of ruling."

The priest nods and places the crown on her head. "So be it."

The other crown was picked up, also far larger than the last one he wore, and the priest turned to Sonic. The priest looks the blue hedgehog in the eyes. "Prince Sonic the Hedgehog, do you swear to be a fair, just king, ruling with wisdom, and ready to defend your kingdom with your life, as you promised earlier?"

Sonic felt Amy's eyes on him, those beautiful jade green eyes, and he nodded. "I so swear before all these gathered here to be a fair, just king, ruling with wisdom, and ready to defend my kingdom with my life, as I promised earlier."

The priest places the crown on Sonic's head. "So be it."

The pink and blue hedgehogs finally rise, Amy groaning as her legs protested due to her belly. The priest turns to the crowd. "By the power vested in me by the Holy Trinity, I present to you King Sonic and Queen Amy Rose Hedgehog! Long may they reign!"

The crowd cheered and responded. "Long live the king! Long live the queen!"

The feasting began in earnest, and Sonic and Amy kissed as their citizens celebrated a new reign. Sebastian and Sabina bowed to the new king and queen, and Amy hugged her mother. "There are no words… I'm a queen now, and my husband still has his forge, right?"

Sebastian nods. "Indeed he does. I couldn't take that passion from him. He also required it before even considering our offer."

Sonic chuckled. "Yes I did. I also thought that I'd have to wait until you either died or decided you were too old to rule, so this abdication came as a surprise. However, I think the first order of business is some advisors."

Amy nods. "I agree."

She looks at her mother. "Lady Sabina? Would you accept a position as personal advisor to the queen?"

The white hedgehog bowed. "Thank you Your Highness. I accept."

Sonic turns to Sebastian. "I offer the same position to you, Sebastian. Will you serve as personal advisor to the king?"

The red hedgehog bowed. "I accept. Thank you Your Majesty."

Sonic nods. "My first order as king is for you and Sabina to go enjoy the feast."

The former king and queen bow and leave to join in the feasting. Sonic looks at Amy. "Let's get settled in. You look exhausted."

Amy nods. "Being pregnant like I am, I need the rest."

Amy goes to bed, and Sonic enjoys some feasting with Tails before joining his wife in their chambers. Their real work would begin in the morning with reconciling the defected nobility and appointing more staff so to speak.